Priory Meadow Shopping Centre
Encyclopedia
Priory Meadow Shopping Centre is a shopping centre in Hastings
, East Sussex
, England
. The centre was opened in 1997 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
. The local radio station Arrow FM
, which was founded in 1998, is broadcast from the centre.
The building was built on Central Cricket Ground, which had originally opened in 1864 and had since remained the main cricket venue in the town. This history is reflected by the statue in Queens Square of a batsman holding a pose having played a shot. The observant shopper will be able to spot the ball that this batsman has hit (as at May 2011, the ball can be seen in the wall above F. Hinds jewellers).
In 1864 the Priory Marshes were levelled and drained and opened as a Cricket Ground, by 1932 one corner of the ground was leased by the Maidstone and District bus company to use as a coach station, then in 1958 a row of shops was built on one side of the ground with seating above.
In 1982 Hastings Council voted for a shopping centre to be built on the cricket ground and to move cricket to Summerfields, now Horntye Park
. In 1988 the council granted planning permission for a new shopping centre to be built on the cricket ground, despite opposition from local residents. In 1989 the ground hosted its last Sussex
county game, when they beat Kent in front of a crowd of 1000 people.
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The centre was opened in 1997 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
. The local radio station Arrow FM
107.8 Arrow FM
Arrow FM is a United Kingdom radio station, based in Hastings, East Sussex, and operated by Media Sound Holdings Ltd. The station plays a selection of hit songs from the last forty years, and offers regular updates on local news, sport, travel and events...
, which was founded in 1998, is broadcast from the centre.
The building was built on Central Cricket Ground, which had originally opened in 1864 and had since remained the main cricket venue in the town. This history is reflected by the statue in Queens Square of a batsman holding a pose having played a shot. The observant shopper will be able to spot the ball that this batsman has hit (as at May 2011, the ball can be seen in the wall above F. Hinds jewellers).
History
The land on which the shopping centre now stands had been underwater before the 13th century, and was the original harbour for Hastings, however a series of severe storms, silting and sea erosion forced the town to move to where the current old town is. The Priory Valley eventually silted up completely and the area became known as Priory Meadow and turned into farmland in 1536.In 1864 the Priory Marshes were levelled and drained and opened as a Cricket Ground, by 1932 one corner of the ground was leased by the Maidstone and District bus company to use as a coach station, then in 1958 a row of shops was built on one side of the ground with seating above.
In 1982 Hastings Council voted for a shopping centre to be built on the cricket ground and to move cricket to Summerfields, now Horntye Park
Horntye Park Sports Complex
Horntye Park Sports Complex is a sports complex and conference centre in Hastings, East Sussex, England. The complex contains a large indoor sports hall, an all weather pitch used for football and hockey and a county standard cricket pitch...
. In 1988 the council granted planning permission for a new shopping centre to be built on the cricket ground, despite opposition from local residents. In 1989 the ground hosted its last Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
county game, when they beat Kent in front of a crowd of 1000 people.